San Diego FC to open 1st of its kind academy, MLS tied to growth of soccer in US?
Alexi Lalas and David Mosse talked about San Diego FC breaking boundaries by creating the first boarding youth academy that is reminiscent of the overseas academies in Europe. Next, the guys discussed whether MLS' growth is tied to the growth of soccer within the United States.
#StateOfTheUnion #MLS #SanDiego
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About Alexi Lalas' State of the Union Podcast:
U.S. Soccer legend Alexi Lalas discusses the biggest stories in the world of soccer from an American perspective. Join Alexi and soccer guru David Mosse, as they break down the USMNT, USWNT, MLS, Bundesliga, Premier League, World Cup & everything in between.
San Diego FC to open 1st of its kind academy, MLS tied to growth of soccer in US?
• San Diego FC to open 1...
Alexi Lalas' State of the Union Podcast
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I think (I am a Brit who lives in the UK ) that if someone gets into the EPL but at first does not like the MLS that's all right, because as time goes by if they have an MLS club nearby there is a good chance that they will follow that MLS club eventually because going to a football match is a great experience and the MLS have now some really great stadiums and what I have seen the supporters try to get a great atmosphere going at matches which draws people in to support their club!
This is exactly what has drawn me to follow MLS more closely than other leagues. I actually get to experience it. I will happily watch EPL or Serie A but I don’t have teams there that I have deep emotional ties to (my dad has been a Juve fan my whole life but they are kind of boring to watch currently). I don’t understand the people who refuse to support a club in their domestic league even if they prefer the quality of football abroad. It’s apart of the culture to support your local club even if they’re in the lowest division.
True story! Not only that but, as the league progresses, it is easier to be an MLS fan. I was not a fan of the MLS 20 years ago. It was fairly poor. However the level of play has grown tremendously it is a lot easier to be a fan now! Its legitimacy as a league has grown as well!
I think European/African/South American style boarding academy system will improve the quality of American players because it will increase the number of training hours an American kids can train if they live on site and don’t have to travel from school to train. The English FA used to have a limiting of hours kids were allowed to train for, deeming it could affect their schooling. When they realised English kids were training much less hours than Spanish, French and German kids, they scrapped the limiting of hours and 90 mile radius rule and suddenly started producing players like Bellingham, Foden, Saka, TAA and others because they were the first of the generation of kids with no training hour limits meaning they were more technical than the previous generation and that could happened to,the USA if all the MLS do this.
When does it open?
Watching games is tough. MLS on Apple TV is too expensive. I only watch the free games. I already watch La Liga and Bundasliga on ESPN for way less. The other part is where some MLS teams play. Here in Colorado, the rapids are way out from Denver that it's a pain to go to games. We need more stadiums in and around downtowns.
I thought it's close to the nuggets arena, and the rockies stadium
As much of an anti-MLS person myself, it would be wise for them to have games in the afternoons after the European regular season ends and broadcasting rights to be extended to European markets to convert Europeans into having an American second team while there's nothing else on during off-season. This could fill the gap for a lot of people who are bored when there's nothing on during those few months.
MLS has evolved over the last almost 30 years of its existence. Just compare clubs from 2024 against clubs from 2014 and the difference is noticeable and if you go to 2004 even more noticeable. MLS is now in a position with Messi to take the training wheels off and if they bump up the salary cap to at least $15 million then they can improve their rosters. If they don't then who can blame American soccer fans for gravitating more towards Premiere League?
There are not enough MLS teams for there to be many more fans. If your city does not have a team you will look elsewhere to see soccer. In the UK and Europe many many towns have teams so there are of course a huge amount of fans. It will take time for MLS to build that. The US is not yet a soccer county....it will happen in time.
The MLS quality has increased. Once it increases more, the support will grow. I follow both leagues and the Premiere gets global support because it’s considered by many, to be the best league in the world. I find myself watching the Champions Cup and CONCACAF Champions league cheering all MLS teams.
How does an MLS team gain entrance ( trounced or not) into say the Champions League?
RSL already does this. 9-12 grade. House and school at their training facility.
BTw, I'll make a bet that the NFL-style VAR calls are introduced to create commercial spot affiliated gaps in the game. Something football/soccer fans should fight against…
I watch Liga MX games in tijuana xolos Stadium and also watch lafc at the bank. In 2025, I'll be watching San Diego fc
Do you think more MLS teams should create boarding youth academies?
NY RedBull is building a training facility that will house academy youth.
MLS needs to make it easier to watch games.
need 100 more and us soccer needs to help pay
MLS complains about this but I don’t hear complaint when MLB and NFL have their regular season games in other countries- undermining the sports teams there 🤷🏽♂️
To make it much more interesting for MLS is something that needs to be done….. RELEGATION & PROMOTION !!
What's your definition of interesting? Boring foreign leagues that have at most 3 teams that compete?
Promotion/relegation won't survive the numerous challenges it would face from local, state, and federal governments here along with the US Court system. Look at what the New England Revolution is going through attempting to finally get a soccer-specific stadium. All the pieces its taking to get it through the Massachusetts legislature, and finally signed by the Governor. Imagine that team out of nowhere being "relegated" out of MLS. Do you really think the powers that be would allow this?
The issue is not the MLS, the issue is a bunch of normies just support the current thing.
Improve your product and the fans will come. If I wanted to watch 22 guys kick the ball senselessly for 90 minutes, I would go watch youth soccer. Bad soccer is bad soccer period. You can't keep your best American players here why should the fans watch.
I’d say that this is pretty off the mark. MLS is by no means bad soccer. I’m not gonna tell you it’s on the level of EPL or anything like that but it hasn’t been bad soccer for a good while. And I’d say it goes against the spirit of the sport to not support a club based on the level of play. You support your club no matter what league or division they’re in. Just my opinion.
@isaacgogna9856 Agreed, it's just a bunch of these normies support the current thing.